This is another contribution to our ongoing PS Godowsky Triakontameron project. I have one more to do, but I haven't even looked at it yet, so it will be awhile for that one. Anyway, this "Lullaby" does not sound so much like a typical lullaby to me. I think it is marked a little on the fast side. Unless Godowsky likes to put his babies to sleep as quickly as possible, which I could understand having raised two little ones myself...

I don't know this set well, so I can only go on first impressions and say you've done well with this: sorry for not giving a more detailed response! It sounds fairly straightforward, but knowing Godowsky, it's probably not. Your melody is clear and I got the rocking aspect from the left hand. I also appreciated the rubati at approx 30 seconds and 1 minute and thought they were tasteful and effective.

Andrew - Yes, some of these Triakantameron pieces are usually a little trickier than they sound. I'm glad you mentioned the melody because that was a bit hard for me to get out there. But the rubati places are something for which I cannot take credit. They are rallentandos written in the music. That's what I like about Godowsky - he wrote in all the markings; when to apply the soft pedal, ritardandos, dynamics, etc. and also very good fingerings! Sometimes I'm such a dingbat because I inadvertently play his music with my own fingerings, when really his fingerings are better and make everything much easier to play.

_________________"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." ~ Frederic Chopin

I don't know this piece, but it sounds as though you play it really well. I agree with you that it definitely sounds faster than a lullaby. Had I not known that, I would have said that it almost has a waltz-like quality to it. Is it written in 3/4 or 6/8?

David

_________________"Interpreting music means exploring the promise of the potential of possibilities." David April

That's what I like about Godowsky - he wrote in all the markings; when to apply the soft pedal, ritardandos, dynamics, etc. and also very good fingerings! Sometimes I'm such a dingbat because I inadvertently play his music with my own fingerings, when really his fingerings are better and make everything much easier to play.

I am very grateful to Godowsky for his excellent and meticulius fingerings. I very seldom deviate from them as they seem eminently practical.

I don't know this piece, but it sounds as though you play it really well. I agree with you that it definitely sounds faster than a lullaby. Had I not known that, I would have said that it almost has a waltz-like quality to it. Is it written in 3/4 or 6/8?

David

Thank you, David. Maybe Godowsky ran out of names or something... All thirty of the Triakantameron are in 3/4 time.

techneut wrote:

pianolady wrote:

That's what I like about Godowsky - he wrote in all the markings; when to apply the soft pedal, ritardandos, dynamics, etc. and also very good fingerings! Sometimes I'm such a dingbat because I inadvertently play his music with my own fingerings, when really his fingerings are better and make everything much easier to play.

I am very grateful to Godowsky for his excellent and meticulius fingerings. I very seldom deviate from them as they seem eminently practical.

Yes, his fingerings are always right on!

_________________"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." ~ Frederic Chopin

Seriously, thank you for listening. And you know, you just made me think about how another one of Godowsky's Triakantameron pieces that inspires us to do something...like that one with the title ???? I can't think of it now, but I think it means whirling dervishes. That would make me too dizzy!! (or maybe I'm mixing this up with something else....)

_________________"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." ~ Frederic Chopin

I had a listen to your lullaby, nice job! The inner voices really came through in an interesting way and the way you played the piece in terms of the rhythm, to me felt quite lyrical and somewhat swingy (though in the classical style) which I found appealing.

Also at the beginning I liked how you put emphasis on beats 2 and 3 (I am guessing as I do not have a score, I only read that you said all of the pieces in this suite are in 3/4).

For criticism, maybe you could experiment with making the dynamics less flashy to make the performance more sleepy (in the style of a lullaby) or at least whenever I think of lullaby I think of a melody playing to a soft effect.

Enjoyed your performance,

~Riley

_________________"I don't know what music is, but I know it when I hear it." - Alan SchuylerRiley Tucker

Seriously, thank you for listening. And you know, you just made me think about how another one of Godowsky's Triakantameron pieces that inspires us to do something...like that one with the title ???? I can't think of it now, but I think it means whirling dervishes. That would make me too dizzy!! (or maybe I'm mixing this up with something else....)

Nice job on this overall! When one thinks Godowsky (at least this one), heaven-storming virtuosity such as the Studies on Chopin often comes to mind. Yet even these smaller-scale works are not at all easy to bring off. Your pedalling is creditably even, your voicing quite well balanced (not easy with those intertwining voices), and I like your ritards. There could be perhaps a bit more salon dreaminess that seems so typical of this composer's works, but that's just my druthers. My only other recommendation would be that I think the tempo is too fast for a lullaby, as you almost seem to imply yourself in your initial post. That is, I wouldn't interpret a marking too literally, but maybe have more freedom in interpreting it. Markings are a guide but in the end, the context of the pianist, the instrument, the rhythm, the spontaneity of the moment, etc. are what should dictate the tempo, at least to a certain degree. A minor nit though. Well done overall!

Thanks for listening, Joe. I just feel that Godowsky put so much effort into all the markings, including the metronome mark, and so I don't think it's my place to play the piece any differently. Maybe if I were a more confident player or a free-spirit I would do that. But also, as I've said many times before, people come to Piano Society to get an idea how a piece is supposed to be played. Therefore, I think we should adhere to the composer's markings as much as possible.

_________________"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." ~ Frederic Chopin

Hi Monica, it's 4:25 AM here, but I have a sleep disorder... so it's just the music for me Very nice, lovely, good! I really like this comfortable feeling I got from the listening! Thanks!!! Now I'm going to sleep...(BTW I haven't forgotten my part in this project, either )

_________________Hye-Jin Lee"The love for music. The respect for the composer. The desire to express something that reaches and moves the listener." (Montserrat Caballé about her main motivation for becoming a singer)

Hello Hye-Jin. Nice to hear from you again! Although, I'm sorry about your sleeping problem; I often have the same problem. Trying to get through the day when you've not slept well is no fun... And yes, I'm glad you will still participate in the Triakantameron project. I just started my last one the other day and discovered that it's very interesting -I didn't expect some of the harmonies.

_________________"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." ~ Frederic Chopin

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